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Running Map - Ballona Creek Bike Path

Ballona Creek Bike Path

When I lived in Los Angeles, this used to be part of a much longer Sunday run. There can be a heavy wind in your face as you run towards the shore, but that also means you have a nice wind to your back as you head inland.

Marina Del Rey to Culver City

If my memory serves me correct, there are mile markers so you can get some nice splits. Though it is a relatively easy run, there are some rolling hills as the path dips below the main streets. Also, there is limited shade, so hot days can get really hot. Some people complain that this run takes you through questionable neighborhoods, but I ran there for 6 years without a problem. Just use your common sense and find a partner to run with if you are uncertain. There's almost 7 miles of bike path in each direction.

Here's a list of the bike path entrances

Duquesne Avenue
Overland Avenue
Ocean Drive
Sepulveda Boulevard
Sawtelle Avenue
Slauson Avenue
Inglewood Boulevard
Centinela Avenue
McConnell Avenue
Lincoln Boulevard
Marina Del Rey

Want More?

The two obvious extensions are the bike paths along the beach to the north (Venice Beach) and to the south (Redondo Beach), also known as The Strand. There are two other side routes that add in a couple extra interesting miles to this run.

Ballona Wetlands

Now, this isn't the best running surface nor is it the most beautiful, but there are days when I just wanted to hop onto some soft surface running or get a change of scenery. There are some natural paths and if you run the perimeter of the main section you'll get about 1.75 mile loop.

West LA Community College Track

If you want to add some speed work in, West LA Community College is not too far off the bike path. Just exit at that Overland Avenue and head southwest until you reach the West LA entrance (about a half mile), and then run to the far end of Freshman Drive to the track. There is also the Culver City High School track that you see in the left side of the photo, but I've never run there. If you know about its availability, please post it in the message board.

Talk with other runners about Ballona Creek at our message board.

Directions

Parking: There is parking in the Del Rey Lagoon if you want to start at the shore.

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Places to Run

Over the coming weeks, I'll be adding running maps of Los Angeles County.

Inland: Kenneth Hahn Park, Elysian Park, Griffith Park, Silver Lake (Ivanhoe Reservoir), Angeles National Forest, Woodley Park, Balboa Park, Sepulveda Flood Control Basin and Dam, Hollywood Reservoir
The Coast:Ballona Creek, Topanga Canyon, San Vicente Boulevard, The Strand – Bike Path, Runyan Canyon, Temescal Canyon, Palos Verdes

Running Map - Staten Island Greenbelt

Staten Island: Cloves Lake Park and Silver Lake Park, Staten Island Greenbelt

The Staten Island Greenbelt

The Staten Island Greenbelt is a chain of parks in the center of Staten Island. This collection has the most trails within the five boroughs, so if you are looking for lots of soft surface running this is the place to go. There are a number of options here, so you'll have to visit more than once. In the map above, I've also labeled Cloves Lake Park and Great Kills Park, which are connected by trails to the Greenbelt for longer runs and more variety.

The Trails

Staten Island Greenbelt Download this Map from SIGreenbelt.org.

There are four major foot trails in the Greenbelt which are clearly marked. None of them are absolutely flat. These trails are hilly, with the yellow trail being the hilliest.

Blue Trail

This 8-mile trail is the longest of the loops and connects to the various other trails at different points in the run. In the northeastern corner, you can follow a trail to Cloves Lake Park for a few more miles.

White Trail

This trail runs generally north and south through Meadowbrook Park and LaTourette Park, and eventually connects to Great Kills Park. The trail is about 5.6 miles long.

Red Trail

This loop measures about 3.8 miles. The trail begins and ends at Historic Richmond Town at St. Patrick's Place which is the southern part of LaTourette Park.

Yellow Trail

The hilliest of the four trails. It is about 6.6-miles and the trail will bring you to Todt Hill (410 ft elevation - highest point on the eastern seaboard).

Talk with other runners about the Staten Island Greenbelt at our message board.

Directions

These directions will take you to the Greenbelt Nature Center, which is right in the middle of the Greenbelt. This will give you access to all the trails.

Driving: From the Verazzano-Narrows Bridge: Take Route 278 West to the Bradley Ave. exit. From the service road, turn left on to Bradley Ave. Continue until you reach the intersection of Bradley and Brielle avenues., turn right and go to end of road, which leads to Nature Center parking lot. From the Outerbridge Crossing: Take the Richmond Parkway to the Richmond Ave. North exit. Turn left on to Richmond Ave. and pass the mall. Turn right on Rockland Ave. Proceed approximately 2 miles to the intersection of Brielle Ave. Parking lot is on the right.

Public Transportation: By bus from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal: Take the S62 bus to Bradley Avenue. Transfer to the S57 bus, which will take you to the Brielle and Rockland Ave. stop. Cross the street at the light.

Running Map - Cloves Lake and Silver Lake Park

Staten Island: Cloves Lake Park and Silver Lake Park, Staten Island Greenbelt

Cloves Lake Park and Silver Lake Park

Cloves Lake Park is Staten Island's miniature Central Park. Silver Lake Park is a nearby reservoir that will add some extra mileage to a Cloves Lake Park run. Overall, this is a nice run. If you want a really long run you can take a path south to the Staten Island Greenbelt.

The Lakes

Cloves Lake Park and Silver Lake Park

The orange path in Cloves Lake Park takes you around three bodies of water - Brooks Lake, Martling Lake, and Clove Lake. There are a few hills within this three mile loop. If you want to explore, besides the obvious paved paths there are also some cross-country trails to explore in various parts of the park. If you think this park is too small to run long in, think again. Cloves Park is the site of the 6-Hour Ultramarathon, a 2 mile loop that the winner usually completes around 25 times.

If you want to go longer or run fewer loops you have two choices. The shortest option is running to Silver Lake. Getting there will take you on the road (Victory Boulevard) for slightly less than .75 miles. Once you get there, the path around Silver Lake park is an easy 1.3 mile loop. Since Silver Lake is actually a reservoir, you can split this lake into two sections via a connector that cuts across (about 0.15 miles long). You might consider running a figure 8 instead to make this a 1.6 mile loop.

Now if you want a really long run, you can run to the southeastern section of Cloves Lake (shown in red). Exit the park running south to Little Clove Road. Use Ayamar Avenue to catch a trail further south to the Staten Island Greenbelt.

Talk with other runners about Cloves Lake Park at our message board.

Directions

Driving: Take the Verrazano Bridge to the S.I. Expressway (Route 278) to exit 13 (Richmond/Clove Roads). Take a right on Clove Road. Park entrance at intersection of Victory Boulevard and Clove Road.

Public Transportation:From ferry, take the S62 bus to Park entrance at intersection of Victory Boulevard and Clove Road.

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Running Map - Leon Kaiser Playground

Brooklyn: Prospect Park, Shore Parkway, Coney Island Boardwalk, Brooklyn Marine Park, Floyd Bennett Field, Belt Parkway Bike Path, Red Hook Playground, Leon Kaiser Playground

Leon S. Kaiser Playground

There isn't much here, but there is a state of the art track. It's proximity to the Coney Island Boardwalk makes it attractive.

The 400m Track

If you take a look, there really isn't much there except for a beautiful 8-lane track. In this case, you can do your warm-up around the track or you can take a few laps around the baseball fields. Get your stopwatch ready. Commence the speed work.

Leon Kaiser Park to Coney Island Boardwalk

One cool thing is its proximity to the Coney Island Boardwalk (0.45 miles). You could actually park there, get your warm-up as a jog to Leon Kaiser, do some speed work, cool down on the way back, and down a Nathan's or some soft serve as a post workout replacement. Can you beat it?

Talk with other runners about Leon Kaiser Playground at our message board.

Directions

Subway to Coney Island: Take the D, F, N, or Q Train to Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue.
Bus: Take the 36 or 74 bus to 33rd Street and walk one block east to the park.

Running Map - Red Hook Playground

Brooklyn: Prospect Park, Shore Parkway, Coney Island Boardwalk, Brooklyn Marine Park, Floyd Bennett Field, Belt Parkway Bike Path, Red Hook Playground, Leon Kaiser Playground

Red Hook Playground

If you are looking for a track in Brooklyn, here is the closest one to Prospect Park (about 1.75 miles, depending on the route). It is a beautiful 8 lane track, so open up that stride and get in a few fast ones.

The Track and The Train

If you are going to take public transportation, the F and D stop at Smith and 9th Street Station. Just take the short warm-up jog (follow the red path in the picture above).

From Prospect Park, exit at the southwest corner and run west down 13th Street. So, if you normally run in Prospect Park you now know where to find the only thing that the park is missing - a track.

Talk with other runners about Red Hook Playground at our message board.

Directions

Subway: Take the D or F Train to Smith and 9th Street Station.

Running Map - Belt Parkway Bike Path

Brooklyn: Prospect Park, Shore Parkway, Coney Island Boardwalk, Brooklyn Marine Park, Floyd Bennett Field, Belt Parkway Bike Path, Red Hook Playground, Leon Kaiser Playground

Belt Parkway Bike Path

Initially, these aren't the most relaxing miles as you'll be running parallel to the cars on the Belt Parkway, but once you get into the zone you'll be treated with an uninterrupted stroll.

The Bike Path - West

The best place to start this run is actually from Floyd Bennett Field. Park there and head north to the Belt Parkway bike path. You can head west for slightly less than 2 miles before you reach the end at Brigham Street and are forced to turn around for another 2 miles back to Floyd Bennett Field.

The Bike Path - East

If you go east, you'll have a much further run - just under 6 miles. So, if you want a 12 miler, head east for an out and back. The quality of the roads seem to vary, but are very runnable. Also, as you head east, you'll notice some dirt trails that veer off towards the water. If soft surfaces are what you need, feel free to meander. About halfway to the end, you'll discover the parking lot along Rockaway Parkway at Canarsie Beach Park - another option. As you continue to the end of the path, you'll run along Spring Creek Park, which looks likes it has some decent trails, but I haven't run them yet. That run will come on an update soon.

Talk with other runners about Belt Parkway Bike Path at our message board.

Directions to the Floyd Bennett Field Parking Lot

Driving: Take the Belt Parkway to Exit 11S, which is Flatbush Avenue South. Take Flatbush Avenue for 1.3 miles. The entrance to the field is on the left side at a traffic light.
Buses: The Q35 bus travels down Flatbush Avenue. There is a stop halfway down Flatbush Avenue, opposite the Ryan Center.

Running Map - Floyd Bennett Field

Brooklyn: Prospect Park, Shore Parkway, Coney Island Boardwalk, Brooklyn Marine Park, Floyd Bennett Field, Belt Parkway Bike Path, Red Hook Playground, Leon Kaiser Playground

Floyd Bennett Field

If you've ever wanted to run down an old airfield, this is your dream come true. Okay, so that can't be too many people's dreams, but it is a cool run nonetheless.

Marine Park Loop

Download this map

I can't really recommend a route here, as I just ran around taking in the sites. If you take the trails and run the runways, you can easily get 5 or more miles. Enjoy this quirky, but really cool park.

Bike Path to Brooklyn Marine Park or to along the Belt

If you want to make this a really long and get more scenic miles in, take the bike path along Flatbush Avenue to Brooklyn Marine Park. Or, you can take the bike path along the Belt Parkway for many more miles, but less scenic.

Talk with other runners about Floyd Bennett Field at our message board.

Directions

Driving: Take the Belt Parkway to Exit 11S, which is Flatbush Avenue South. Take Flatbush Avenue for 1.3 miles. The entrance to the field is on the left side at a traffic light.
Buses: The Q35 bus travels down Flatbush Avenue. There is a stop halfway down Flatbush Avenue, opposite the Ryan Center.

Running Map - Brooklyn Marine Park

Brooklyn: Prospect Park, Shore Parkway, Coney Island Boardwalk, Brooklyn Marine Park, Floyd Bennett Field, Belt Parkway Bike Path, Red Hook Playground, Leon Kaiser Playground

Brooklyn Marine Park

Even though Prospect Park gets all the press, Brooklyn Marine Park is the largest park in Brooklyn and offers more trails to run than its famous cousin. Part of the park is part of a wildlife refuge, so you might get lucky and catch a glimpse of a swan or some geese or some other non-city like creature.

Warning: In the morning, people let their dogs run free, so plan on coming mid-day or the afternoon.

Marine Park Loop

If you follow the orange trail above, you'll get a little more than 5.25 miles. The park is split into two sections by Avenue U. You'll have to cross it twice to complete the loop. The northern part is just a simple oval loop around the baseball fields. There is nice shade in this area. The southern loop consists of various trails. I've only run here once, so I can attest that these trails are nice, but I'm not confident how they hold up after a good rain. I plan on going back for more I'll update this run in the future.

Marine Park Bike Path to Floyd Bennett Field

If you want to make this a really long and interesting run, take the red path to the Marine Park Bike Path to Floyd Bennett Field. I know that most runners are a little crazy, but please use the cross-walk to cross Flatbush Avenue. Safety first!

Talk with other runners about Brooklyn Marine Park at our message board.

Directions

Driving: Take the Belt Parkway to Kings Plaza exit, then north on Flatbush Avenue to Avenue U. Turn left on Avenue U and continue west for ten blocks. Pass 33rd Street and look for the parking lot on the right.
Subway/Buses: Take the B46, B2, or B41 to Kings Plaza, transfer for the westbound B3 bus to East 33rd Street and Avenue U. Or, take the 2 or 5 train to Norstrand Avenue, then take the B41 to Kings plaza or B3 west to East 33rd & Avenue U. Or, Take the N, F, or Q trains to Avenue U, then the B3 Bus East to East 33rd Street and Avenue U.

Running Map of Staten Island

Bronx | Brooklyn | Manhattan | Queens | Staten Island

Cloves Lake Park and Silver Lake Park

Staten Island Greenbelt

Running Map - Coney Island Boardwalk

Brooklyn: Prospect Park, Shore Parkway, Coney Island Boardwalk, Brooklyn Marine Park, Floyd Bennett Field, Belt Parkway Bike Path, Red Hook Playground, Leon Kaiser Playground

Coney Island Boardwalk

Although this isn't the best place to run in New York City, this does add to the variety. You'll be treated with some of the sights and sounds of this tourist attraction and all its beach glory.

The Boardwalk

If you are taking the train or parking in the lot near the Coney Island attractions, you'll be starting this boardwalk run in the center of all the action. Go west and you'll be on Boardwalk West. Go east and you'll be on Boardwalk East. There is nothing complicated about this run. This beach run is approximately 2.5 miles from end to end or about a 5 mile run for an out and back in each direction.

There are some things to remember. One, this is a tourist attraction, so expect a crowd. This isn't the spot for intervals or a flat tempo run. You have to be alert. Not only are there crowds, there are also some tricky spots (loose nails and uneven boards). Be careful, because this isn't the place to take a spill. In addition to these obstacles, there are days when it is really windy, which is good and bad. It feels cool, but a big gust means sand blowing at you. Okay, enough of the negatives... The scenery and atmosphere are what makes this run special. For a stretch, you have a carnival atmosphere with all the smells that brings back memories of childhood. Best of all, you can treat yourself to a funnel cake or a Nathan's hot dog once you are done. Can you beat it?

Talk with other runners about Coney Island Boardwalk at our message board.

Directions

Subway: Take the D, F, N, or Q Train to Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue.

Running Map - Shore Parkway

Brooklyn: Prospect Park, Shore Parkway, Coney Island Boardwalk, Brooklyn Marine Park, Floyd Bennett Field, Belt Parkway Bike Path, Red Hook Playground, Leon Kaiser Playground

Shore Parkway

Running the Shore Parkway was my introduction to Brooklyn running. This run takes you along the beach, with beautiful views of the water and the Verrazano Bridge.

Entrances to the Parkway

We'll start from the north and head south along the shore. The best place to enter is 69th Street Bay Ridge, which is just outside of Owl Head Park. From this entrance you can head south for about 2/3 of a mile before you reach the Shore Road Entrance. If you take this footbridge you'll find yourself in Shore Road Park, which has a few miles of pathways you can run, but most runners stay on the promenade. The next opportunity to leave/enter the bike path is at 92nd Street, another connection to Shore Road Park. As you continue to head south, the view is of the majestic Verrazano Bridge. Once you pass the bridge, you'll have a straight beach run all the way to Bensonhurst Park. There are two bridges you can cross into/out of the park - Bay 8th Street and 17th Avenue. The length of the bike path is about 4.2 miles each way. On the way back, you'll be re-energized by patriotism as the Statue of Liberty is visible on the horizon. Overall, it is a nice run - a great place to mentally separate yourself from the city's chaos.

Talk with other runners about Shore Parkway at our message board.

Directions

Public Transportation: R train to Bay Ridge Avenue Station. The station is at 69th Street, so head west towards the water for 5 blocks (warm-up/cool-down run).

Running Map - Pelham Bay Park (Orchard Beach)

Bronx: Van Cortlandt Park, Old Croton Aqueduct, Pelham Bay Park (South), Pelham Bay Park (Golf Courses), Pelham Bay Park (Orchard Beach)

Pelham Bay Park - Orchard Beach

For some reason when people talk about running in New York City, they'll mention all of the major parks except for the largest park in New York City - Pelham Bay Park. They are all interconnected and can be run as a single long run, but I'm going to separate it into three different sections. This one is obviously about Orchard Beach.

Map of Pelham Bay Park

Download the PDF from the nycgovparks.org..

Orchard Beach - Long Island Sound

For this run, you can bring the family and drop them off at the beach while you go out for a while. (Note: The beach is free, but there is a small parking fee ($6/$8 - weekday/weekend.) From the parking lot, you can head towards the beach and start on the boardwalk. Cruise north along the boardwalk, and just before it ends, hop onto the trail that follows the shore around Hunter Island. At this point, you can stay on the circumference or you can explore the trails within the island forest.

Once you make it around the island, you'll end up near the parking lot. Follow the road that parallels the boardwalk. Once the parking lot ends, you'll be behind the Pavilion where the bike path begins. Follow the bike path around the The Meadow (See the PDF.) Just as the bike path ends, take the trail to the north that runs along the shore and into the woods. This will lead you back to the Boardwalk, completing the 5 mile loop. With all the other trails in The Meadow and Hunter Island, you can do a variety of slightly different loops. You can also run from here to the Golf Courses or south to the track in the southern end of the park. (see the other maps).

Talk with other runners about the Pelham Bay Park (Orchard Beach) at our message board.

Directions

Driving: Take the Hutchinson River Parkway to the "Orchard Beach/ City Island" exit. Remember there is a small fee to park ($6 weekday, $8 weekend as of Summer 2008)

Running Map - Pelham Bay Park (Golf Courses)

Bronx: Van Cortlandt Park, Old Croton Aqueduct, Pelham Bay Park (South), Pelham Bay Park (Golf Courses), Pelham Bay Park (Orchard Beach)

Pelham Bay Park

Map of Pelham Bay Park

Download the PDF from the nycgovparks.org..

Golf Course Bridle Path

First of all, I am not advocating running on the golf courses. Besides risking death, this is not allowed. For runners there are three areas to focus on. The largest trail (around 3.5 miles) is the bridle path, which connects to a riding stable further south - yes horses. When I ran there I didn't run by anyone riding, but I'm sure if you run there enough you'll cross paths. Common courtesy is to walk by the horses so that you don't startle them.

The other options include the Split Rock Trail (see PDF) to the west of the bridle path and the Siwandy Trails in the Bartow Pell Woods (again, see PDF). It isn't hard to run around these golf courses a few times to get double digit miles on soft surfaces. Check it out.

Talk with other runners about the Pelham Bay Park South at our message board.

Directions

Driving: Take the Bruckner Expressway north to exit 8B to Orchard Beach. Take Shore Road to the golf course parking lot.

Running Map - Pelham Bay Park (South)

Bronx: Van Cortlandt Park, Old Croton Aqueduct, Pelham Bay Park (South), Pelham Bay Park (Golf Courses), Pelham Bay Park (Orchard Beach)

Pelham Bay Park South

Map of Pelham Bay Park

Download the PDF from the nycgovparks.org..

Pelham Bay Park South and the Rice Stadium

There are a couple of miles to be had here. You could take the loop highlighted in orange above for a little more than 1.25 miles or you can just explore and run for time. So, why write about a small couple miles of run? Well, those couple miles are perfect as a warm-up/cool-down run before your speed workout at Rice Stadium's 400m mondo track. It is beautiful. I'll have to get some photos of it next time I'm up there. It is an 8-lane track, each lane alternating in color between blue and gold.

There is just one note I should mention about this park. Just north east of the highlighted loop is an old landfill. They have planted grass over it, but I wouldn't go run over there. Although I haven't been there when it rains, I hear that it can get kind of smelly - not good. You have been warned.

Talk with other runners about the Pelham Bay Park South at our message board.

Directions

Subway: Take the 6 Train to the last stop in the Bronx. You'll be arriving in the northwest corner of the park.

Running Map - Old Croton Aqueduct (Van Cortlandt to Tibbetts)

Bronx: Van Cortlandt Park, Old Croton Aqueduct, Pelham Bay Park (South), Pelham Bay Park (Golf Courses), Pelham Bay Park (Orchard Beach)

Old Croton Aqueduct Trail to Tibbetts Brooks Park

Here is one of the secrets of Van Cortlandt Park. Runners who have traveled the same course loops over and over will appreciate this gem. An out and back run can be around 7 miles depending on when you turn back and which side trails you may venture onto. Besides the initial paved roads aligning the golf course, you'll be treated to a nice trail run with plenty of shade all the way to Tibbetts Brook Park - another good place to tack on a few extra miles if you want double digits for the day.

I should note that this trail may be hard to find at first, but take a closer look at this PDF. You'll be going under the parkway as you turn right from the golf course. Also note that there are a lot of trails up there in Croton Woods. Have fun and explore!

Talk with other runners about the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail at our message board.

Directions

Running: This is a connection between Van Cortlandt Park and Tibbetts Brook Park, so you can catch this trail from either location.
Subway: Take the 1 Train to the last stop in the Bronx. The map above starts right from the base of the stairs.

Running Map - East River Promenade (Upper East Side)

Manhattan: Central Park, Riverside Park, Armory Track, Roosevelt Island, East River Promenade, Inwood Hill Park and Fort Tryon Park, Battery Park, East River Park

East River Promenade

If you live along the East Side of Manhattan, this is your little getaway from the tall buildings into the open air along the water. Surprisingly, you can run over 6 miles in an uninterrupted out and back run.

60th Street Entrance to 91st Street

The recommended start is the 60th Street ramp along York Avenue. From there you can run uptown. This is right near the 59th Street Bridge, which makes for a nice addition for those Queens runners entering the city from the Queensboro Bridge. Heading north, you'll get a nice view of Roosevelt Island and Queens. There aren't many options, except for a side stroll through Carl Schurz Park and a glance at Gracie Mansion. On the way return you'll get a nice view of the 59th Street Bridge and the Air Tram crossing the river to Roosevelt Island.

91st Street to the Triborough Bridge

Again there aren't many options here. The nice out and back run continues without a surprise. There are two choices here. The first big choice you are faced with is if you want to travel to Randall's Island. Let me say, that I've done some running there, but at the moment they are doing so much construction work there that it just isn't worth it. Wait until it is over and then reconsider. This is true unless you are heading to watch a track meet at Icahn Stadium - which there are many. Once you've past the foot bridge, the 111th bridge to Jefferson Park is your next possibility. They have a 5 laps to the mile rubberized track. It is a blue rectangular track. Note, that it is rectangular, almost 90 degree turns, so don't expect any personal records to be set. All that is left is the road to the Triborough Bridge - your turnaround point.

Directions

Subway: The R, N, 4, 5, and 6 Train stops at 59th Street and Lexington.
Running: This is a nice connection to and from the Queensboro Bridge.

Running Map - Battery Park and the West Side

Manhattan: Central Park, Riverside Park, Armory Track, Roosevelt Island, East River Promenade, Inwood Hill Park and Fort Tryon Park, Battery Park, East River Park

Battery Park and the West Side

If you are into seeing the sights, this run is for you. Starting from the north and heading south, you'll run by the U.S.S. Intrepid, Chelsea Piers, and into Battery Park. From Battery Park you can spy Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, and Governors Island.

For those runners who live in Brooklyn and run to work on the West Side, this is a popular route. It is also popular amongst the midtown and lower Manhattan crowd. Unfortunately, most of the running tourists miss this scenic run and restrict themselves to Central Park. If you are visiting New York, please give this one a try. Depending on your route you can expect that this run to be 5.25 miles to close to 5.75 miles each way. Also, remember that you can extend this run through Riverside Park to Inwood Hill Park if you are looking for an ultramarathon out and back run.

Running the West Side Bike Path

Being that you are following a linear bike path, there isn't much explaining to be done here. You should just be aware of a few facts. One, you are running along the water, so the wind can be terribly harsh in the winter. Two, there isn't much shade, so in the summer apply sunscreen generously. Three, there aren't many places to stop for water or the restroom, so if you are leaving from Riverside Park you may want to consider using the facilities before you continue south. Besides the open waters, the scenic items along this part of the run are the U.S.S. Intrepid and Chelsea Piers. Enjoy!

Battery Park and the Sights

You have two options on this section of the run. You can either run along the water in Battery Park City or on the bike path along West Street. West Street is a little shorter, but there are more traffic lights.

Once you've entered Battery Park, you'll be rewarded with a wonderful little park and views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. While you're there, you might want to stop by the Korean War Veterans Memorial for a stretch and a little history lesson.

Directions

Running: From the North you can run from Riverside Park. From Brooklyn you can cross the Brooklyn Bridge and head south west along the water to Battery Park.
Subway: Take the 4 or 5 train to Bowling Green. Or, take the R or W train to Whitehall Street. Or, take the 1 train to South Ferry.

Running Map - The Embarcadero Promenade

The Embarcadero

This has to be one of the most popular runs amongst the casual runner in San Francisco. The Embarcadero is the main street that runs along the shore.

Positives:

Very few traffic lights.
Great scenic views

Negatives:

Lots of foot traffic during the day (Solution: Do a morning run.)

A complete out and back run is slightly over 6.5 miles. If you would like a longer run, you can check out our map to the Golden Gate Bridge. Okay, with that out of the way, let's get into the details.

San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge to Pier 39

Let's start the run in the shade of Bay Bridge. From this point you can head west along the bike path towards Pier 39. This section is generally a peaceful run with lots of space and few people. The only distraction is the whizzing of car traffic. Enjoy the calm before you enter tourist magnet Pier 39.

Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf to Fort Mason

So this is where your senses will be overstimulated. If the oblivious walking tourists don't require all of your mental energy to get around, it gets tougher to focus when your runner's appetite is tempted by the scent of fresh seafood from the Wharf or the iconic sourdough from the Boudin Bakery. Now to challenge the newcomer, at this point you have to be alert enough to leave The Embarcadero and turn onto Jefferson Street. Once on Jefferson Street you just run until the street ends and then hop onto a short bike path that borders the shore. Once the bike path ends you have reached the perimeter of Fort Mason.

Fort Mason Loop

The Fort Mason loop is our turn around point. You'll simply run up Van Ness Avenue and then down Bay Street before hopping onto a dirt path that runs parallel to Laguna Street. You then simply loop around the Fort and back to our bike path towards Jefferson Street and complete the out and back run.

Directions

The N, T, and 12 lines will drop you off right next to the Bay Bridge, but grabbing any form of transportation that drops you along The Embarcadero will do.

Running Map - Riverside Park

Manhattan:

Inwood Hill Park and Fort Tryon Park

Battery Park

East River Park

Riverside Park

Sometimes you need to get away from Central Park, and Riverside Park is a nice option given its proximity to Central. Running along the Hudson River from 58th Street to about 156th Street, Riverside Park offers a relatively flat scenic cruise. Since you'll be scrolling down, we'll start towards the northern end of the park and make our way south.

Warning: This is one long skinny park... be prepared to scroll.

Upper Riverside Park 156th Street to 112th Street

Riverside Park Fund: PDF.

Riverside Park 148th to 156th
	The northern most end of the park connects you to Fort Washington Park, which you can then run through to Fort Tryon and Inwood Hill Park to extend this run. At this point you can take the bike path that runs along the Hudson River. If you are driving to Riverside, this is one of the locations for parking, so you can make a nice out and back run from here.
Riverside Park 139th to 147th
	As you head down the bike path, you'll eventually run into Riverbank State Park. It is a park built upon a treatment plant, but don't be alarmed there is one prized piece of running real estate here - an all weather 400m track. I've used it a few times for an interval workout, but there are generally three problems. First, it is routinely scheduled for some type of local sporting event, which means the track is essentially closed. Second, if it isn't scheduled it always seems to be occupied by a pick-up soccer game, so be warned that you have to keep one eye on the track and the other to the inside of the track. Finally, when you get lucky and there isn't a crowd you have to compete with the wind. Remember you are on the river, so you get an unimpeded whipping from the wind. Now that being said, there are times when you can get it all to yourself on a calm sunny day. It's worth a try. Sometimes as I run Riverside, I'll just check and if I'm lucky, I'll throw in a few unscheduled intervals in the middle of my run.
Riverside Park 130th to 138th
	From here you have a choice to make. You can take the bike path again along the shore and enjoy the view of Jersey or take the bridge from Riverbank State Park towards Riverside Drive and run the bike path along the drive. Be warned that you'll be leaving the green scenery for a little while as Riverside Drive turns into a bridge - not a bad thing, but something you should know so you don't feel like you've taken the wrong path.
Riverside Park 121st to 129th
	If you have chosen the shore path, you'll get more beautiful views of the river. If you chose to run along Riverside Drive, you'll be back in the park where you'll pass the General Ulysses S. Grant Memorial.
Riverside Park 112th to 120th
	Again, if you've chosen the shore, you've got shore for a while. In fact, I should mention that you've made the commitment to 100th Street. If you have chosen the drive, you actually get another choice. You can stay along the rode, or you can take the long flight of stairs on 120th into the heart of Riverside Park. If you take the stairs, you'll be rewarded with a water fountain and restroom. From there you can run along the paved path on the inside of the park, which is usually my pick of the three routes.

Lower Riverside Park 111th Street to 58th Street

Riverside Park Fund: PDF.

Riverside Park 103th to 111th
	Now you're finally in the lower half of Riverside Park. Each route continues without surprise.
Riverside Park 94th to 102th
	At 100th Street there is a connecting path from the shore to the inside of the park. If you are running along Riverside Drive, you have to be careful when you cross 96th Street. The cars can be a little wreckless there. I've personally seen some very close calls.
Riverside Park 85th to 93th
	At 93rd, you'll be forced to leave the shore and run through the park. Inside the park, you'll be running through the Serpentine Promenade, which has a semi-runnable dirt path running along the side.
Riverside Park 76th to 84th
	At 83rd Street there's another path to the shore, which will lead you to the Boat Basin Cafe. If you need to get back to the street, there is another path that you can take through the cafe, which they don't seem to mind.
Riverside Park 58th to 75th
	If you are running along the shore, there are restrooms available at 75th Street and a 220-yard dirt track on 73rd street. This track has terrible footing and the turns are way too tight to run anything fast, but for some reason there are always runners there. If you've been running along Riverside Drive, the park will funnel you down to the shore at 72nd Street. You'll be guided to a tunnel that takes you to the track. At this point you can head south along the water along the bike path. At 58th Street you'll be leaving Riverside Park, but you can take the bike path all the way to Battery Park.

Mileage

The actual mileage is tough to measure since you have so many options, but as a general rule one mile is equivalent to about 20 city blocks. So, from 58th Street to 156th Street you got about a 5 mile run or approximately a 10 mile out and back run. Something else to consider if you are running an out and back run, Riverside Drive slopes down heading south so you have an uphill going back.

Directions

Running: You can run about 1/2 mile west from Central Park and drop into Riverside. From the North, you can run from Inwood Hill Park, Fort Tryon Park, and Fort Washington Park. From the South, you can run up the bike path that starts in Battery Park.
Subway: Take the 1 Train and stop anywhere between 72nd and 157th Street and walk west.
Bus:The M5 bus runs along Riverside Drive, which is your best bet.

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Running Map - Van Cortlandt Park

Bronx:

Van Cortlandt Park

Old Croton Aqueduct

Pelham Bay Park (South)

Pelham Bay Park (Golf Courses)

Pelham Bay Park (Orchard Beach)

Van Cortlandt Park

400m Track

Located in the southwestern corner of the park, this track isn't anything spectacular. It hasn't been resurfaced in a while, but you can't really complain since it is open for public use. Great for interval workouts and time trials.

Cross-Country Courses

The official 5K cross-country course. This is used for many big races, including the high school Footlocker Northeast Regional Championships.

Another popular course, very similar to the 5K course, is the 2.5 mile run. Because of tradition and the ability to compare themselves to the great runners of the past, this distance is still very popular as many of the local high school races still run the 2.5 mile rather than the 5K.

In New York City, the high school freshman (and younger kids) run a 1.5 mile cross-country course. They circle the flats and enter the woods. They run Freshman hill, run by the bridge (NOT across), run down hill and storm down the edge of the woods to the finish.

The Van Cortlandt Park Nature Trails

Download PDF

Like many runners in Van Cortlandt, they run the same loops over and over... These may not be the best for running fast or the longest trails, but it will help add a few extra miles and some new scenery to pass the time.

Cass Gallagher Nature Trail

Trailhead:

Length:

John Kieran Trail

Trailhead:

Length:

John Muir Trail

Trailhead:

Length:

Old Croton Aqueduct

Old Croton Aqueduct

Talk with other runners about Van Cortlandt Park at our message board.

Directions

Subway: The 1 Train is the only way to go to get to the most popular running areas. It is the first and last stop at West 242nd Street. The 4 train at Woodlawn takes you to the park's southeastern area.
Car: The Major Deegan Expressway has two park exits: Van Cortlandt Park South, which serves the south and west portions of the park, and East 233rd Street, which serves the north and east. The Henry Hudson Parkway's Broadway exits also serve the park. Mosholu Parkway links Van Cortlandt Park with the Bronx River and Pelham parkways. Broadway goes right by the Parade Ground. Use the highways to get to it, though it's usually very busy. The same can be said of Jerome Avenue on the park's eastern border.
Bus: The Bx9 travels along Broadway on the western edge of Van Cortlandt Park. The BxM3, an express line serving Manhattan, also offers access to the park's western border. The park's east side is served by the Bx16 and the Bx34. Westchester bus lines numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 20, and 21 also serve the park.

Running Map - East River Park

Manhattan:

Inwood Hill Park and Fort Tryon Park

Battery Park

East River Park

East River Park Track

East River Park isn't much of a park, more like a strip of various playing fields, but fortunately for you and me they do have a wonderful 400m track (shown below).

The track is great, with a few exceptions. First, it can get crowded because it is so nice. Second, there's usually a group playing soccer or rugby. Watch for errant balls or bodies! At times it can be hard to completely focus on an interval when people are kicking random bullets around the track.

East River Park Promenade

What used to be a great feature of the park was the promenade that ran along the water. For years it has been under construction. So far the NYC Parks department has done a nice job reopening part of it. All of the landscaping hasn't grown in and most of it is still under construction (as of 1/2008), but in the future it will be another nice place to cruise around for a couple miles. When completed it will stretch from 14th Street to Jackson Street.

Directions

Subway: There aren't any subway lines that run close to the park. The closest stops are for the F or V Train at 2nd Ave Station, the L Train to the 1st Ave Station, the 6 Train to 14th Street, or the J, M, and Z Trains to the Essex Street stop. All are long walks.
Bus: Take the M8 Bus to Avenue D and 10th Street or the M14D Bus to Avenue D and 6th Street or Houston Street. Then walk.

Running Map - Inwood Hill Park and Fort Tryon Park

Manhattan:

Inwood Hill Park and Fort Tryon Park

Battery Park

East River Park

Inwood Hill Park and Fort Tryon Park

Although these two parks are two distinct parks, they make for a great combo for runners. These two parks make up the best trail running in Manhattan. Being in the northern most tip of the island, this block of wilderness is sometimes forgotten by the crowds of midtown. There are too many little trails to map out individually, but one could easily cruise around for 7 or more miles between these two gems.

Trail Map of Inwood Hill Park

(This map can be downloaded from the NYC Government Parks page as a PDF.)

Inwood Hill Park is the most remote of the two. Generally the trails are great, but the smaller trails can get overgrown in the summer and spring months. It is easy running in the fall and winter. My advice to you is find a buddy to run with and explore. It is important here to bring someone, because, like I said earlier, these trails are away from the city and remote. Most runners that I have spoken to say running here is safe, but there is th

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